2002 vs 2003
The Cost of Living Comparison
Median Income
$42,410
→
$43,320
+2.1%
Median Home
$186,025
→
$192,125
+3.3%
Housing Labor
4.4yr
→
4.4yr
1.0x harder
📊 Full Item Comparison
| Item | 2002 Price | 2003 Price | Change | Hours 2002 | Hours 2003 | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥚 Eggs | $1.03 | $1.24 | +21% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🍞 Bread | $1.02 | $1.00 | -1% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥛 Milk | $2.76 | $2.76 | +0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| ⛽ Gas | $1.36 | $1.59 | +17% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🥩 Ground Beef | $1.71 | $1.95 | +14% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Harder |
| 🐔 Chicken | $1.07 | $1.03 | -4% | 0.1h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🥓 Bacon | $3.24 | $3.20 | -1% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| ☕ Coffee | $2.92 | $2.92 | -0% | 0.1h | 0.1h | Easier |
| 🍊 Oranges | $3.73 | $3.81 | +2% | 0.2h | 0.2h | Easier |
| 🍬 Sugar | $6.23 | $6.39 | +3% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
| ⚡ Electricity | $0.09 | $0.09 | +2% | 0.0h | 0.0h | Easier |
| 🎓 College Tuition | $4,081 | $4,587 | +12% | 200.2h | 220.2h | Harder |
| 🚗 New Car | $22,871 | $23,282 | +2% | 1121.7h | 1117.9h | Easier |
| 🏠 Monthly Rent | $629 | $647 | +3% | 30.8h | 31.1h | Harder |
| 🏥 Doctor Visit | $40.59 | $47.43 | +17% | 2.0h | 2.3h | Harder |
| 🎬 Movie Ticket | $5.73 | $6.03 | +5% | 0.3h | 0.3h | Harder |
📈 Got Harder to Earn
Items where labor hours increased from 2002 to 2003, sorted by magnitude.
🥚
Eggs
0.1h → 0.1h
1.2x
harder
⛽
Gas
0.1h → 0.1h
1.1x
harder
🏥
Doctor Visit
2.0h → 2.3h
1.1x
harder
🥩
Ground Beef
0.1h → 0.1h
1.1x
harder
🎓
College Tuition
200.2h → 220.2h
1.1x
harder
🎬
Movie Ticket
0.3h → 0.3h
1.0x
harder
🏠
Monthly Rent
30.8h → 31.1h
1.0x
harder
🍬
Sugar
0.3h → 0.3h
1.0x
harder
📉 Got Easier to Earn
Items where labor hours decreased from 2002 to 2003, sorted by magnitude.
💵 Purchasing Power
If you earned the median income in 2002 ($42,410), you'd need $43,385 in 2003 to maintain the same lifestyle.
Based on CPI adjustment (179.9 → 184.0).